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Another text was: "The job wasn't a go ahead so we've got to find another way to hit it."

A new plan was formed two weeks later: They would kidnap Prutsiriporn under the pretence of a drug deal.

Kayes said Prutsiriporn was involved in drugs, had served time for importing methamphetamine and was on active charges at the time of her death.

At 8pm on February 29, Aphichart Korhomklang and two others went to Prutsiriporn's home where they planned to lure her into their car then turn the light on.

Kayes said this was to signal the ghost unit that she was "ready to be taken".

About 8.50pm, Prutsiriporn she came out of her house and got into the back of the black ute.

"Its at that point the Crown says the ghost unit struck."

A black Toyota Isis pulls up and she was bundled into the back of it and Kayes said she was told words to the effect of: "Don't scream or try anything or else I will shoot you. If you try anything I know where your family lives and we'll hit them."

Haurua and Vaifale then held her in the Toyota for a number of hours.

But as the sun started to rise, Kayes said, Haurua began to worry about what to do with her and sent texts asking his associates where he was meant to take her.

"Be best for us to move ASAP while it's still dark."

They took her to Haurua's house and tied her with a torn-up sheet.

Kayes said she was still loosely bound when she was found after escaping from the car boot.

But Prutsiriporn was making too much noise.

Haurua texted his girlfriend: "Baby you have anyone that you know that we could use for a couple of hours to hide this f***head?"

They decide to take her to Korhomklang's house at 9 Wayne Drive, Mangere, and at 10am on the Tuesday a text from a ghost unit member is sent: "Package delivered."

Prutsiriporn spends most of the day tied up in the garage.

Meanwhile, Kayes said, Liev was trying to organise more cars to move her.

Witness Sovanarith Ing, who is set to give evidence, was involved as Liev wanted to use his vehicle, but has not been charged.

Initially, he refused because he was worried Prutsiriporn would scream but Liev, another associate and Havea pressured him, assuring him she was bound and gagged.

They arrived at Wayne Drive about 5pm where she was put in the back of Ing's car. The ghost unit members don't go on from there, the prosecutor said.

While in the boot, Prutsiriporn found a knife and wrapped it in foam, then hid it down her trousers.

She also found a chef's steel and used it to gouge open the boot while they were stopped at traffic lights on Huia Rd, Papatoetoe.

Prutsiriporn was found nearly unconscious, barely breathing and foaming at the mouth with ties around her neck, waist and ankles.

She died in hospital two days later.

A pathologist concluded she suffered at least three major blows to the head, only one of which could be caused by Prutsiriporn coming out of the boot.

Kayes told the jurors they would need to decide:

• If she was detained without her consent.

• If they were sure she felt threatened and that fear of violence caused her to escape from the car.

• If her attempt to escape was the "natural consequences of the actions of the defendants".

• If coming out of boot contributed to her death in a "not insignificant way".